Does anyone have a good answer on why the IRS does not allow fittness programs, and or health club memberships as eligible expenses under health care reimbursment accounts (HCRA)?
This seems inconsistamt with the basic premise of overall weel being and preventative health. Why wouldn’t the government want to encourage people to pursue a healthier lifestyle with the benefit of a HCRA?
Doesn’t make sense to me.
UMMMMMMM…because they are bastards.
I agree with you that gym memberships should be included in FSAs. They are as important, if not more, than dentists, daycare, etc.
I dont know how it works in the US, but here in Canada, if you get a “perscription” from your doctor stating that you need a gym membership for your health, you can then claim it. Just something that might be worth looking into.
They are afraid people might start lifting weights and go blind.
[quote]bigflamer wrote:
This seems inconsistamt with the basic premise of overall weel being and preventative health. Why wouldn’t the government want to encourage people to pursue a healthier lifestyle with the benefit of a HCRA?
Doesn’t make sense to me.[/quote]
Sure it makes, sense…people get to claim the membership, they might actually go to the gym which might actually make them healthier than they were last tax season. Which will make them able to think more clearly…no one in government wants the people to think clearly or else the people will then realize how they have been scammed all these years…the dumber the citizenry, the more power they have…
Talk to a CPA and see if you can go to your Doctor and get a prescription for a membership…then claim it under (or in addtion to) physical therapy. They do still allow claims under physical therapy on your tax returns…
I talked to my brother who is a CPA about this. He said that health club dues are a tax deductible medical expense if they are prescribed by a physician for a medical condition. Also, a weight reduction program to treat obesity or a specific problem directly associated to excessive weight is deductible. However, you can only deduct medical expenses to the extent that they exceed 7.5 percent of yyour adjusted gross income. As far as the flex spending accounts, check with your plan provider to see if they will reimburse the expenses.